Machinery for handling cotton.



PATB'NTED JUNE so, 1903,

J. R. FORDYYGE. MACHINERY FOR HANDLING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1901.

N0 MODEL.

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m: NoRus PETERS co, PHoTaumo., WASHINGTON,

No. 732,625. i PATENTED JUNE 30, 1.903.. J. R.FORDYCE.

MACHINERY FOR HANDLING GOTTON.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov. 1a. 1901.

j@ ff N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENTED JUNE 3o, 1903.

J'. R. FORDYCE.

MACHINERY FOB. HANDLING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV'. 13, 1901.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

NO MODEL.

minou. u c.

No. 732,625. PATENTED JUNE so, 190s. J. R. FoRDYoE.

MACHINERY FR HANDLING COTTON. APPLIUATION- FILED Nov. 1a, 1901.

1m MODEL. 5 SHEETS-sum 4.

Dijon noia-Emo |1||||| www n um A PATENTBD JUNE 30. 1903. J. R. FORDYUE. MACHINERY FOR HANDLING COTTON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1901.

.-5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

Unirse STATES- Patented June 30, 1905,.

lrPATENT Ormes.

4.ion-N FoRDvon-,` on LITTLE ROOK, nnknusns;

MACHINERY FOR HANDLING COTTON;

SPECIFICATION forming* part of" Letters Patent N; 732,625, dated June 30, 1903.

' Application iiled ovember'lS, 1901. Serial No. 2-,130. KNO model.)

.To '0l/ZZ whom t may concern.:

f Beit known thatI, JOHN R. FORDYOE, a citiyzen of the United States, residing at the city of Little Rock, county of Pulaski, 4State of Arkansas, have invented a `certain new and useful Improvement in Machinery for Handling Cotton, of which the following is a full, clear,

Figure l is a front elevational view of myimproved machine. fFig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevational View. Fig. 4 is an enf larged side elevational view of the middle Yportion of the machine. 5-is a detail view of an arm-carrying bracket. Fig. 6 is a front elevational View of the construction shown in Fig. Fig. 7 is'avdetail viewshow-V ing one of the movable bearings of the driven cone. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the picker wheel or carrier, showingthe same in longitudinal section. Fig. '9 shows said picker wheel for carrier in transverse section and also illustrates the relation of'a combingwheel and a doffer-wheel thereto. Fig. l0 is a detail View of the combing-wheel shown iny Fig. 10, the left-hand portion being shown in longitudinal section. Fig. ll is an end elevational'view of the oombingwheel. Fig. 12 is a front elevational View `Of a modiled arrangement of the regulating devices shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 13 is a side elevational View of the same. f,

This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in machinery designed to handle cotton after it is ginned, said machinery handling the cotton in an approved manner, so as to cleanse the same preparatory to baling.

In its treat-mentot the cotton the machine shown in the accompanying drawings eX- cludes air therefrom, enabling the formation of a round bale from a continuous bat of uniform thickness and weight. Mechanism is employed for controlling the feed of the cotton to the bat-forming devices, whereby any irregularity in the bat at one point will effectively adjust the supply mechanism, tendand thickness.

One feature of my machine is the provision of a chamber for the storage of cotton received as a resultant prod-uct a bat of uniform weight from the gin, said chamberaccommodating a supply of sufficient quantity to keep the press running notwithstanding the factthat one or more of the 'supply-gins may be shut off.

`A second use ofthe storage-chamberis to hold the cotton turned out by the gins While the press is stopped to take outa bale. Thus the gins can run all the time. This chamber receives the limp bat from the condenser, from which air has been partially removed, the cotton in this storage-chamber being taken away 'by a carrying-cylinder which subjects the carried cotton to a combing action, this combing action kicking back into the storage-chamber all surplus cotton. This combing operation practicail y regulates the ultimate thickness of ythe bat.

From the carrier the cotton is taken up bya doffer-roller-and made to pass over a .grill or screen, whereby foreign particles in vchamber is made up of a traveling carrier 4moving in the direction of bat-forming rollers, which rollers press the cotton and eX- clude thevair therefrom, forming a Well-de-A fined bat, Whichvis received onto a table or platform and delivered between'two rollers,

performs two functions other than the one v above ascribed to it-that is, it serves as a carrier for the bat to the pressing mechanism and, further, as one of the supports for f r floo the bale being formed.

The pressing mechanism referred to forms ing to correct said irregularity and produce the subject-matter of a separate application filed by me on or about June 18, 1902, Serial No. 112,217, and consists, essentially, of two supportingrollers upon whose hubs4 are wheels slightly larger in diameter than the roller itself. Upon these wheels the projecting ends of the core are originally supported. 'lhese larger wheels cause the core to go faster than the roller, and therefore tension is placed on the bat when it is first wound on the core. 'lhis core receives the bat, and by reason of the rotation of the supporting-rollers the bat is wound on the core. The pressing mechanism also contemplates a pressingroller arranged above and preferably in vertical alinement with the core, which pressingroller is designed to come in contact with the bale, causing the bat to be tightly wound thereon. As the bale increases in diameter this superimposed pressing-roller is raised, and this action brings into operation several mediums, all tending in their respective ways to gradually increase the pressure of the superimposed roller and to that extent cause a greater tension to be placed on the bat, so that the outer convolutions of the bale will be wound more tightly than are the inner convolutions. The rising pressure-roller first relieves itself of a yielding supporting medium, which when exhausted permits the entire weight of the pressing-roller to bear upon the bale being formed, after which a continued upward movement of the presser-roller sets into operation certain devices which coperate with and control a friction-brake, said friction-brake being gradually applied until the bale is about completed. In connection with this bale-forming mechanism instrumentalities are designed to be thrown into and out of action at the will of the operator whereby the pressing-roller can be elevated above the position to which it was raised by the bale for the purpose of removing the bale, and this mechanism can also be used to restore the pressing-roller to its original position after the formed bale has been removed and when an empty core is inserted in position.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a construction for carrying the above into effect, in which 25 indicates a flue lead-` ing from a source or sources of cotton-supply, usually in the form of a plurality ofgins, which discharge their cotton fibers thereinto. This flue delivers the cotton into the bottom of a pocket, and by reason of the current of air generated by the gin-brushes the lint is lifted in this pocket and delivered onto a condensing-cylinder26. Thiscondensing-cylinder is of usual construction in being made of wire mesh or other suitable material, through the openings in which air may be drawn, said air being sucked by means of an exhaust-fan or other appropriate device from the ends of the cylinder 26 through pipes 27. With respect to the pocket which receives the cotton from the pipe 25 it will be noted that the front Wall thereof is inclined upwardly, its

brings over the cotton from the gins and which 4 is more or less laden with dust from escaping into the accumulating chamber into which the thin bat formed by these rollers 28 and 29 is delivered. The roller 29 is provided with leather or rubber flaps on its periphery, which yield to a certain extent and press air out of the bat which is formed therebetween and the roller 28.

30 indicates a plate, preferably inclined and located under the roller 29, said plate having its inner edge arranged close to the condenser-cylinder, while its outer edge is designed to cooperate with' a damper or deflector plate 3l, pivotally mounted at its lower edge to the front wall of the machine. This damper-plate can be so manipulated as to cause the thin bat formed between the rollers 28 and 29 to fall into the accumulating-chamber 32 or be `deflected outwardly through the front of the machine, this latter position of the damper being shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

33 indicates an endless belt which forms the bottom of the accu m ulating-chamber and provides a moving platform upon which the thin or limp bat referred to is received. This endless belt travels slowly and is designed to carry the cotton up to and preferably slightly under a revolving picker wheel or carrier 34. The details of this picker wheel or carrier are shown in Figs. 8 and 9, wherein it will be seen that said wheel consists of suitable spider-frames 35, fixed to a shaft 36, said frames supporting a cylinder 37, upon Whose periphery are arranged longitudinal strips 38, provided with teeth or projections 39, so inclined as to hook the cotton on the traveling belt 33 or in the accumulating-chamber and carry it upwardly. The end spider of this picker-wheel is provided with a gear-rack 40, with which meshes a driving-pinion 4l.

42 indicates a combing-cylinder located above the picker-wheel and in front of a partition-wall 43, said partition-wall being provided with a yielding curtain or flap 44, whose lower free edge is arranged in juxtaposition to the picker-wheel for the purpose of separating the accumulating-chamber from the collecting-chamber for the bat-forming mechanism. The combing-cylinder 42 referred to is provided with a longitudinal series of perforations, said cylinder being mounted upon heads 45, which heads carry stud-shafts 45, projecting outwardly and mounted in suitable bearings.

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4 seen that the combing-fingers 46 are designed to project through diametrically opposite openings in the combing-cylinder, said openings guiding said fingers in -their movement. As these fingers intersect the axis of rotation of the cylinder, the stud-shafts 4511,before referred to, are employed, which leaves the space in the combing, cylinder practically free. The combing-lingers 46 are formed in sets, all of the fingers lyingin the same plane, forming a set and beingconnected to a carrying-bar 47, the ends of which bar project through radial slots formed in the` heads of the combing-cylinder, the protruding ends of the bar preferably carrying rollers 48, which are received in a cam-slot 49 of a disk 50. This disk, or rather these disks,4 because there is one such disk arranged at each end of a combing-cylinder, are loosely mounted upon the stud-shafts 452L andl in operation are designed to be held in a stationary position by means of arms 5l, secured to their hubs. The combing-cylinder is rotated by applying power to either or both of the stud-shafts Al5a and carries with it the combing-fingers, which byreason of the rollers on the ends of lthe bar travelingin the eccentrically-arran ged cam-grooves 49 will cause the ends of its connected set of combing-fingers to protrude through their respective openings, the greatest throw of said fingers being in proximity to the picker-wheel, the fingers recedinginto the combing-cylinder at their opposite ends or at a point most remote from the pickerwheel, as shown in Fig. 9. By this construction it is obviousthat a corresponding adjustment of the cam-disks 50 will circumferentially adjust the point of greatest throw ofthe fingers, so that in thismanner more or less cotton will be permitted to pass with the picker-wheel beyond the flap44. For instance, if the greatest throw of the fingersisopposite the picker-Wheel a small amount Will be permitted to pass, whereas by locating the greatest throw to either side of this point by the adjustment of the cam-disks a greater amount of cotton will be permitted to pass. The function of this combing-cylinder is, through the medium of the combing-fingers, to kick back or prevent too much cotton being carried over by the picker-wheel, and means are provided in my machine for automatically adjusting the point of greatest throw-of the combing-fingers, whereby in the event that the bat-forming rolls are supplied with too much cottonthat is, if the bat is too thicksaid rolls by being separated more widely apart than usual will adjust the cam-disks 50 so as to locate the pointl of greatest throw of the' combing-fingers closer to the periphery of the picker-wheel, as shown in Fig. 9, and thus reduce the supply of cotton to the collectingin the event that the bat is t-oo thin or too thick at either side the throw of the combingfingers on that side only is adjusted. The means for accomplishing this is shown in Figs. 12 and 13, wherein 52 are links, there j being one on each side of the machine, ad-

justably pivoted to the ends of the arms 5l, said links being likewise adjustably pivoted to the ends of arms 53, there being one of such arms 53 on each side of the machine.

These arms 53 are mounted upon the axle ofl cylinder 58, which is provided with teeth 59,

traveling in paths between the teeth 39, and with flaps 60. These teeth 59 force the cotton onto a grill 6l, preferably made up of transverse bars in the form of a cage, said grill or Ascreen .permitting the blast of air generated by the iiaps 60 to pass through the cotton and carry with it foreign particles, suchas motes,

55e., down onto a rearwardly-curved wall 62,

said wall passing under the picker-wheel 34 and forming a trough for the collection of foreign particles falling through the grill. The hooks on the picker-Wheel keep this trough clean by carrying the foreign particles rearwardly and delivering them under the belt 33, so that theyl may be removed. when desired.

The cotton passing up over the grill 6l is ICO forced to make an abrupt curve before entering the bat-collecting chamber 57 by means of the upper edge of the partition-wall 63,v

which is practically an upward extension of the forward edge of the trough 62. This abrupt bend of the bat enables the air generated bythe flaps 60 ou the doffer-roller to get at practically both sides of the bat to `relieve it of foreign particles. Foreign particles fallinginto the bat-collecting chamber are permitted to escape through the meshes of the y cylinder 56. The rollers 54 and 55 arethe presser-rollers, which rotate in opposite directions, as before stated, and press out the air from the bat. The method of driving these rollers 54 andy 55 is shown in Fig. 4,`

wherein it will be observed that the roller 54 is provided with gears-64 on its axle, which gears mesh with similar gears 65. The arm or link 53 referred to is designed toswing on the axle of `gear`65, which axle, as shownfin Figs. 6 and l2, preferably extends entirely IIO IZO

across the frame of the machine, the gearsv 65 being loosely mounted thereon, as theyserve merely astransmitting-gears.

66 indicates the driving-gear, whose axle if llas mounted upon it a sprocket 67. This gear 66 meshes with a gear 68 on the kaxle of roller 55. Motion being imparted to gear 66 it will drive the gears 64 and 68 and their conjoined rollers in opposite directions, and as the roller 54 is movable on an arc of a circle described from the axis of rotation of the gear 65 it follows that the roller 54 will accommodate itself to the thickness of the bat. In fact, this is true with respect to either end of roller 54. In the event of a thick bat passing between the rollers 54 and 55 the roller 54 will be elevated and in so doing cause the arms 53 to be raised, and by this action cams 50 are adjusted circumferentially, (see Fig. 13,) so as to move the point of greatest throw of the combing fingers nearer the pickerwheel. In the event that the roller 54 or either end of it approaches its companion by reason of a thin bat it follows that the rear end of arm 53 will be depressed, so as to adjust the point of greatest throw of the combing-lingers away from the picker-wheel- It follows that the bearings of the roller must be such as to accommodate the adjustment of the throw of the combing-lingers when the roller 54 has one end elevated or depressed, as the case may be, where the bat is thin or thick on one side only, and thus for purposes of distinction it may be said that the combing-iingers can be tortionally adjusted, because conditions might arise wherein one cam 50 on one side of the cylinder would be adjusted in one direction, while the cam on the other end of the cylinder at about the same time would be adjusted in the opposite direction.

The end of the arm 53 is fixed to a transverse shaft 70, upon which the gear 65 is arranged, and whenever the roller 54 moves up or down by reason of a thick or thin bat passing thereunder the shaft 7() is rocked, and this rocking motion is utilized to control the speed of the picker-wheel, belt 33, and cylinder 56, so that in addition to regulating the amount or volume of cotton passing into the bat-collecting chamber 57 by the mechanism above described I increase the speed of the pickerwheel, the belt 33, and the cylinder 56. In the event that the bat gets thin and permits the roller 54 to approach its companion and more cotton is thrown into the collectingchamber 57 in a given space of time or in the event that too much cotton is in the collecting-chamber and the bat thickens beyond the desired degree I cause the picker-wheel, belt 33, and cylinder 56 to rotate at a slower speed, so as not to deliver too much cotton into the bat-collecting chamber. I accomplish this by utilizing the rocking motion of the shaft 70, showing one way of obtaining the desired result in Figs. 4 and 6 and illustrating a modified form of said mechanism in Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 6, it will be noted that the end of rocking shaft carries a bracket 7l on its end, in which is mounted a lever 72. This lever 72 is preferably extended forwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, to forni a hand-lever by which this mechanism may be manually thrown into or out of action or controlled, if desired. The rear end of lever 72 is adjustably connected to a link 73, whose upper end is adjustably connected to a rockarm 74 on a rock-shaft 75. This shaft 75 carries at its inner end a miter-gear 76, meshing with a companion 77, on whose shaft is fixed a belt-shifting arm 78. I will state here that shaft 70 has connected to it an arm 70, whose upper end is slotted and embraces a rod, upon which is arranged a spring 70h, an adjustable follower being provided for said spring,where by its tension may be regulated. This spring tends at all times to restore the parts to normal position, wherein the roller 54 rests upon its companion, and in which position the beltshifting arm 78 is to the extreme right. The belt-shifting arm 78 is slotted at its upper end and engages a slidable shoe 79, said shoe having guiding-arms 80, mounted in suitable bearings. Shoe 79 embraces a short circular belt 81, arranged about a cone 82. This cone is mounted in eccentric bearings 83, which bearings are rotatably adjustable by means of pinions 84 conjoined thereto, said pinons meshing with segments 85, fixed upon a rockshaft 86. Ahandle 87 is arranged upon this rock-shaft, said handle extending forwardly within reach of the operator, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby the operator may at any time and irrespective of the position of the belt-carrying shoe 79 depress the cone 82 out of engagement with its companion or driving cone 88. The driving-conev 88 is mounted in fixed bearings in the upper end of an A- shaped supporting-frame 89 and has conjoined to it a pulley 90, which drives a pulley 91, said pulley 91 being mounted upon one of the studshafts 45 of the combing-cylinder and rotating said combing-cylinder. This cone 88 and this pulley 91 are constantly driven and preferably at uniform speed. The base or enlarged end of the driving-pulley 88 is formed with a reduced portion 88a, whose length is greater than the width of the belt 81, whereby when the arm 78 is in its extreme position to the right belt 81 will be opposite this reduced portion 88 and no motion will be imparted from pulley 88 to cone 82. However, as soon as the roller 54 is elevated by cotton passing thereunder the shaft 70 will be rocked, and through the connections above mentioned the belt-shifting arm 78 will be moved to the left. The initial speed of the cone 82 is the greatest and as the bat thickens the belt-shifting arm 78 is moved to the left, so that the speed of the driven cone is gradually reduced. This driven cone 82 has a pulley 92 fixed to its end, which pulley is belted by a belt 93 to a pulley 94, to whose shaft is fixed the drivingpinion 41 ot' the picker-wheel. The shaft of the picker-wheel at the opposite side of the machine carries two sprockets 95 and 96, the former of which drives, through the medium of a suitable chain-and-sprocket mechanism,

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in Fig.' 3, the cone 8S and its associate pulleys are driven-by a belt 99 on a countershaft 100, preferably located Vunder the machine.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown a modified form of mechanism for shifting the belt 81a,

and consequently changing the speed of the driven cone, which modified form of mechanism comprises a link forming an extension of the spring-pressed arm 70a, said link 70c moving a` rock-arm 72a, connected by a link 473a to a rock-arm 74a. In this manner the rocking of shaft '70 will affect the movement of the belt-shifting arm from right to left, and vice versa, whenever the roller 54 rises or falls, depending upon the thickness of the bat of cotton passing thereunder.

The bat of cotton formed by the mechanism above described and passing between the rollers-.t and 55, which press the air therefrom, is delivered to the bale-formingmechanism, which bale-forming mechanism forms the subject-matter of` application Serial No. 112,217 and is not claimed herein.

From the above description it will be observed that the cotton from the several gins is caused to pass over the condensing-cylinder and then between dofiing-rollers, which initially press the air therefrom. These doffing-rollers prevent the dust-laden air from the gins from entering the accumulating'- chamber, and by the manipulation ofthe flap 3l cotton may be deflected from the accumulating-chamber and discharged into a recep-v tacle located in front 0f the machine oronto a suitable couveyer. The air drawn from the ends of the condensing-cylinder reduces the pressure at this point, so that the .dustladen air instead of attempting to escape past the dong-rollersinto the accumulatingchamber is induced to enter the condensingcylinder and-be carried olf. The cotton received into the accumulating-chamber is carried by the movable bottom in the form of a i belt to the picker-cylinder in the form of a limp bat and the surplusage kicked back by thecombing-iingers. This agitation of the cotton tends to free the same of dirt and dust, and such foreign particles as are carried by the air are induced to pass upwardly by the inflowing current into the condensingcylinder, and consequently the accumulatingchamber is kept free from dust-laden air, and therefore comparatively clean.

From the above it will be seen that the suction on the condensing-cylinder is effective in freeing the cotton as it comes from the gins from dirt, &c.,and also is effective in freeing the accumulating-chamber of dust-laden air.

By independently adjusting the throw of the results.

the combs at either end of the combing-cylinder or adjusting the throw of said combs inopposite directions or simultaneously in the same direction the amount of cotton admitted to the bat-forming rollers is automatically regulated. In furtherance of this idea the speed of the picker-wheel, as well as that of the belt forming the moving bottom in the accumulat-ing-chamber and also 'the perforated cylinder forming Athe bottom of the bat-collecting chamber, is regulated by auto- Y matic mechanisms, so that a uniform thickness of the bat is preserved. If from unexpected causes the uniformity of the bat is destroyed, these mechanismswill be Vautomatically set in action and will tendto create or modify conditions in suchmanner that uniformity in the thickness of the bat will be preserved. So far as I am aware, I am the first toprovide automatic mechanism of the character herein describedfor accomplishing The advantage of this accumulating-chamber will be apparent when it is considered that the machine'shown in the acn approxi mately equal to their supply, yet when the baling apparatus is inoperative it is not desirable to simultaneously shut down the gins, and consequently the gins continue to supply the machine with cotton, such cotton being taken care of by the accumulatingchamber. This store of cotton may be drawn upon in the event that one of the gins becomes incapacitated or for other reasons the supply is not equal to the demand. In any event the operator knows the quantity of cotlton available for baling purposes, and in the event that the baling mechanism operates too rapidly for the supply it is only necessary to increase the interval of time between the formation of each bale, permitting the accu- IOO IIO

mulat-ing-chamber'to store a sufficient quanf tity of cotton, which, the supply being constantly received, will be employed to allow the bale-forming mechanism to operate as designed in the formation of a bale Without interruption. The cleaning devices for the cotton, or rather the opportunity of the cotton to be cieaned at various points, is also ad- Vantageous. posed to the accumulating-chamber, as well as to the passage through which the cotton is The wcondensing-cylinder is exintroduced into the machine from the gins,

and consequently foreign particles, dirt, &c., are drawn from the cotton direct as the cotton passes over the condensing-cylinder, and dust-laden air is also removed from the accumulating chamber. agitates the cotton, so as to free it from particles of dust, &c.,and these are conducted oH-through the condensing-cylinder. Asthe cotton is carried over bythe picker-Wheel past the partitionwall it is acted upon by the The combing-cylinderA dofng-rollers and combed and fanned,so that foreign particles will pass down through the grill or screen. The combing and tanning action of the machine at this point also lightens the cotton, and in this respect it Will be noted that the combing action is pratically in the opposite direction from theV action to which the cotton is subjected by the combing-fingers of the combing-cylinder, and consequently dirt, dust, &c., are given a better opportunity to escape.

Of course the doffing-roller S rotates at su ficient speed to carry the cotton from the picker-Wheel and deposit it upon the grill. Any foreign particles which may be carried over with the cotton into the bat-collecting chamber are afforded an opportunity to escape through the perforated bottom of said chamber in the form of cylinder 5G, which cylinder in a sense acts as a movable bottom in directing the cotton to and between the batforming rollers 54 and 55. It is these batforming rollers which automatically set in action the devices for regulating the amount of cotton supplied thereto, as before described.

From the bat-forming rollers the cotton is delivered in the form of a compact bat of uniform thickness, from Which air has been pressed between the nal pressure-rollers, which practically press all air from the bat.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my machine can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a iiue leading from the gins, or other source of supply, of a condensing-cylinder over which the cotton passes, doing-rollers for taking the cotton from the condensing-cylinder and pressing said'cotton into the form of a limp bat, an accumulating-chamber, and a housing for the condensing-cylinder, which housing entirely surrounds said condensing-cylinder and said dofting-rolls and coperates therewith to prevent dust-laden air from entering an accumulating-chamber; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus ot the character described, the combination with a flue leading from the gins or other source of supply, of a condensing-cylinder, dofng-rollers, an accumulating-chamber, and a movable deflecting-plate which, in one position, directs the limp bat issuing from the dofng-rollers into the aceumulating-chamber, said deflectingplate in another position directing the bat through an opening in one of the Walls of said chamber; substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a ue leading from the gins or other source of supply, a condensing-cylinder, (letting-rollers for said condensing-cylinder and an accumulating-chamber into which the limp bat from the doftingrollers is received, said condensing-cylinder opening into said accumulating-chamber; substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a due leading from the gins or other source of supply, ot' au accumulating-chamber, a condensing-cylinder located in the top of said accumulatingchamber and over which the cotton passing through said flue is forced to travel, means for exhausting the air from the interior of the condensing-cylinder whereby the air is induced to flow into said cylinder through the cotton carried on top thereof, and the air in said accu mulating-chamber is likewise exhausted, and dofing-rollers for said condensing-cylinder for discharging the cotton from the condensing-cylinder into the accumulating-chamber; substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus ot' the character described, the combination with a condensingcylinder,doer-rolls cooperatingtherewith,ot a bat-forming mechanism, and au interposed accumulatiug-chamber; substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a condensingcylinder, doffer-rolls coperating therewith, of a bat-forming mechanism, an accumulatingchamber for receiving the cotton from the condensing-cylinder, and a mechanism for supplying a predetermined quantity of cotton from the accumulatng-chanlber to the bat-forming mechanism; substantially as described.

7. In au apparatus of the character described, the combination with an accu mulating-chamber, of a condensing-cylinder and coperating dotter-rolls for discharging cotton in the form of a limp bat into said chamber, a movable bottom in said chamber, a batforming mechanism, and means for supplying cotton to said bat-forming mechanism from said accumulating-chamber; substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination With an accumulating-chamber, a condensing-cylinder for discharging the cotton into said chamber, of a bat-forming mechanism, a movable bottom for said accumulating-chamber, a pickerwheel for elevating the cotton from said chamber, a second bat-chamber therebeyond and means for deliveringa predetermined amount of cotton carried by said picker-Wheel into the bat-forming mechanism through a second bat-chamber; substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with an accumulating-chamber, ofa condensing-cylinder for discharging the cotton into said chamber, means in said chamber for advancing the cotton, mechanism for taking a predetermined amount of cotton from said chamber, a bat- ICO IIO

forming mechanism for receiving and acting upc-n the cotton taken from said accu mulating-chamber, and an intermediate bat-chamber; substantially as described. 4

lO. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a condensingcylinder, of-an accumulating-chamber into which the cotton passing over said condensing-cylinder is received, means c ontinuously acting upon the cotton to advance the same in said chamber,a constantly-operating mechanism for selecting and carrying a predetermined amount of cotton out of said chamber in the form of a continuous loose bat, a batforming mechanism for receiving and acting upon vsaid loose bat of cotton, and an intermediate bat-chamber; substantially as described. y

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with an accumulating-chamber, of a condensing-cylinder and doer-rolls for delivering cotton into said chamber, an endless belt forming the bottom a combing-cylinder for knocking back the surplus cotton carried by the picker-wheel, aexible curtain under which the cotton carried by the picker-wheel is forced to pass, a doffing-wheel and a grill or screen over which the cotton doffed from the picker-wheel is forced to pass, substantially as-described.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with an accumulating-chamber, of a picker device for elevating the cotton therein, a screen, a dofng-wheel for taking the cotton from said picker device and subjecting it to an air-current over said screen, and a wall for carrying foreign particles' falling through the screen under the 'picker device where said foreign particles are acted upon by the picker device; substantially as described.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a picker-wheel, of a screen located in proximity thereto, a doffing-cylinder for taking the cotton from the picker-wheel andforci'n g it overthe screen, said doffing-cylinder generating currents of air which have a cleansing action on the cotton, and a wall under the screen for catching foreign particles falling through said screen, said wall being curved in the form of a trough under the picker-wheel, whereby said pickerwheel is instrumental in effecting a discharge of said foreign particles over the edge of said trough.

15. In an apparatus ofthe character described,the combination with a bat-forming mechanism, of feeding devices therefor, and

means set in operation by the bat-forming mechanism for automatically regulating the speed ofithe supplyingv devices and simul'- taneously adjusting said supplying devices,

whereby more or less cotton is furnished the 16. fn an apparatus of the character de-v scribed, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism, of feeding devices therefor, in-

`cluding a combing-cylinder having adjustable teeth, and means for adjusting the throw of the teeth at one end of the combing-cylinder independently of the throw of the teeth at the other end of said cylinder, said means being actuated by the bat-forming mechanism; substantially as described. f

17. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism, of feeding devices therefor, including a combing-cylinder, and means connected to and operated by said bat-forming mechanism for circumferentially adjusting the throw of the teeth in the combing-cylinder at either end independently or at both ends simultaneously; substantially as described.

18. In an'apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism comprising two rollers one ofA which is movable at right angles to its axis of Y rotation, feeding devices for said bat-forming mechanism including a combing-cylinder comprising sets of connected teeth, cams atk inder and its carried sets of teeth rotate, andV connections between the ends of the movable bat-forming roller land said cams, whereby when either or both ends of said roller moves,

either or both cams are circumferentiallyad-- j usted and the point of greatest throw of the teeth circumferentially displaced forwardly or backwardly; substantially as described.

19. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism comprising two rollers 54 and 55, gears 64 and 68Icarried upon the ends of said rollers, gears 65 and 66, in mesh with each other and with the gears 64 and 68, respectively, shafts for all ofsaid gears, links pivoted upon the shaft of gear 65 in the outer ends of which links the roller 54 and its carried gear 64 are mounted, a combing-cylinder,

scribed, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism, of feeding devices thereforconed pulleys for driving said feeding devices,

means connected to andk operated by the batforming mechanism for regulating the speed of the driven cone, eccentric bearings in which I said driven cone is mounted, and means for operating said eccentric bearing whereby said driven cone may be `rendered inoperative at will; substantially as described.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism,offeedingdevicesthe1efor,ineans for operating said feeding devices, said means comprising a driving and a driven cone, a belt interposed between said cones, eccentric bearings for the driven cone, means for depressing said driven cone by rotating said bearings, and a belt-shifting mechanism operated by the bat-forming mechanism; substantially as described.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism comprising two rollers normally held apart by the bat, of feeding devices therefor, coned pulleys for driving said feeding devices, one of said cones being provided with a reduced portion at one end, a belt interposed between said cones, and means operated by the bat-forming mechanism for shifting said belt whereby when the bat-forming rollers are in contact with each other the belt is moved intothe reduced space at the end of one of said cones, whereby the feeding devices are rendered inoperative; substantially as described.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism comprising two rollers normally spread apart by the bat, of feeding devices therefor, a pair of cones for driving said feeding devices, a belt interposed between said cones, and a mechanism for shifting said belt along the cones, said mechanism being oper ated bythe bat-forming mechanism,whereby when the rollers are moved apart by a thick bat the speed of the feeding devices is reduced, and when the rollers approach each other the speed of the feeding devices is increased; substantially as described.

2i. In an apparatus of the character de# scribed, the combination with a bat-forming mechanism comprising two rollers which are normally spread apart by the bat, a shaft which is rocked by the spreading-rollers, a rock-arm on said shaft, a belt-shifter which is actuated by said rock-arm, a pair of cones between which is arranged a belt carried by said belt-shifter, and a feeding mechanism for the bat-forming rollers which feeding mechanism is driven by one of said cones; substantially as described.

25. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with an accu m ulating-chamber having a movable bottom, of a bat-forming mechanism arranged in a chamber having a movable bottom, feeding devices for conveying the cotton from the accu mulating-chamber to the bat-forming mechanism, which mechanism includes two rollers normally spread apart by the bat, and means connected to and operated by one of said rollers whereby the speed ot' travel of the movable bottoms of the accumulating-chamber and of the chamber in which the bat-forming mechanism is arranged, is regulated; substantially as described.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bat-collecting chamber, of a bat-forming mechanism arranged therein, a perforated cylinder for supplying cotton in said chamber to said forming mechanism, and means controlled by said forming mechanism for regulating the speed of said cylinder; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of November, 1901.

JOHN R. FORDYCE..

fitnessesz J. R. FLETCHER, M. VALEDHUE, Jr. 

